ATTENTION:Metro Vancouver is hosting two upcoming public engagement
events in the picnic area of Belcarra Regional Park on Thursday, July 14 and Saturday, July 16, 2016.
The purpose of this public outreach is "to gather input on future programming and development" in the Belcarra South area of the Park where we reside.
We encourage Belcarra South Preservation Society supporters to visit the Park on either of those dates and/or to complete their
online questionnaire, available July 7-24, 2016.

Introduction

With two distinctly different recreational sites - Sasamat Lake and the Belcarra Park Picnic Area on Indian Arm - Belcarra Regional Park is one of Metro Vancouver's most beautiful parks. It is well-served by trails to Jug Island, Bedwell Bay, Sasamat Lake, Admiralty Point and Burns Point.

Belcarra South lies within Belcarra Regional Park boundaries and commonly refers to the area that extends south along the waterfront from the Belcarra Park Picnic Area.
Lining the foreshore are seven cottages and a two-storey heritage home - the Bole House. A gravel road turns off Tum-tumay-whueton Drive, providing access to the property. The name Belcarra South is a bit of a misnomer since only the first cottage south of the picnic area lies within the borders of the Village of Belcarra; the remaining six cottages and the Bole House fall within the jurisdiction of the City of Port Moody following its acquisition of Electoral Area B in 1988.

Those of us who live in Belcarra South know how fortunate we are to reside in this forested, seaside haven where Indian Arm branches north off Burrard Inlet and within view of the bustling cities of Burnaby, North Vancouver and Vancouver. Living in what were formerly summer cottages and the Bole House - all dating back to the early part of the 20th century - we provide unofficial stewardship of this part of the park. We recognize it is both a responsibility and a privilege to be the eyes and ears on Belcarra South and adjacent waters.

Unfortunately, the future of the cottages is not secure and Metro Vancouver's plan to demolish them is a very real and immediate concern.

2014 Jun 17 - Request for extension denied by Allan Neilson, General Manager, Metro Vancouver Policy, Planning and Environment. BSPS are advised that an extension can only be granted by the Board; staff merely responds to Board direction.

2014 Jun 16 - BSPS letter to MV Mitch Sokalski requesting an extension "since there is no urgency for expansion and since expansion has been officially opposed by both municipalities, we formally and with respect request an extension until October 31 or until the future of the cottages is determined and the 'in process' issues are resolved."

2014 Jun 08 - Baidarka Day - Belcarra South celebrates the relaunching of the Mount Fairweather - a 48-foot six-man (Aleut style) baidarka built by former resident George Dyson and launched in 1975. In situ on the lawns of the Bole House since the late 70s it now resides at Bay Cottage.

2014 Jun 05 - Jo Ledingham attends the Metro Vancouver Environment & Parks Committee to present a proposal on behalf of Belcarra South Presentation Society for improved public access to Cabin Beach, cultural and historical public programing, mitigation of liability and to provide new information regarding heritage status supported by the City of Port Moody and Village of Belcarra.

2014 May 22 - MV Mitch Sokalski sends a letter to remind tenants of the impending eviction date of June 30 and to let us know they plan to cut off utilities and board up the cottages shortly thereafter.

2014 May 21 - Mike Clay writes a forceful letter to the Board and to MV Regional Parks requesting the tenants be left in place until the situation is resolved.

2014 May 13 - Port Moody Council approves heritage status for the seven Belcarra South cottages and adds them to the Port Moody Heritage Register. The Statement of Significance presented by Don Luxton & Associates includes recognition of the Belcarra South Preservation Society residents for their commitment to preserving the cottages for over four decades.
Mayor Clay and Port Moody council also approve a letter to Metro Vancouver: 1) enquiring about process re purchasing the cottages, 2) stating that the City of Port Moody is not supportive of the expansion of Belcarra Park as it relates to traffic on Ioco Road and increased costs in policing, and 3) requesting the Metro Vancouver Board revisit previous motions relating to future expansion of Belcarra Regional Park, (as per the 1985 Belcarra Regional Park Plan and 1994 BRP Pre-Design Picnic Site Expansion Plan). See Mayor Clay's letter of May 21.

2014 May 12 - Lynda Floyd, CAO Village of Belcarra - letter to Ron Wood, Central Area Parks Manager re process for Heritage Protection/Designation for Mayo Point Lodge (the one cottage within Belcarra boundaries).

2014 Apr 29 - John R. Taylor, filmmaker, arrives with a documentary film crew and continues to arrive throughout April and June. Conducts in-depth interviews, takes stills as well as film.

2014 Apr 08 - Port Moody Heritage Commission & Council.
After obtaining the support of the The Port Moody Heritage Commission for preserving the cabins, the commission made a recommendation to PM council to declare some level of heritage status for the cabins and community. (Item 6.3, City of Port Moody Regular Council Meeting).

2013 Dec 20 - Village of Belcarra Mayor and Council tour. Cancelled due to snow (although Councillor Jennifer Glover did manage to arrive after a commendable hike across the picnic grounds in her weather-worthy snow boots).

2013 Dec - The Situation.
We are very grateful for the 10-month extension to June 28, 2014 awarded by the GVRD Board on July 26, 2013. However, the recent Board decision on October 25 to strike down our bid to remain in our homes and preserve our cottages is, needless to say, very disheartening.
That said, we will continue to work to persuade those in power to reconsider the preservation of our longstanding and vibrant community.